The Êzidî people have organized a march with all institutions, associations and organizations in the Sinûnê district of Shengal against Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan’s threats against Shengal and the Êzidî people. The protesters called on the Iraqi government and the international public to stand against the Turkish state.

In the march from the Sinûnê district center to the Sinûnê Administrative Building, the Êzidî people gave a message that they will not accept the presence of any force on their lands, except for those who stood by them and defended them in the August 3, 2014 genocide.

“THE ÊZIDÎ PEOPLE CAN ACT ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN WILL”

By the end of the march, Shengal Democratic Autonomous Council Co-chair Hesen Hecî made a press statement in the name of the participants.

In the statement, Hesen said, “We don’t accept the threats the Turkish state tosses around to carry out a massacre on our lands. We demand that the Iraqi government and the international community speak up against these threats by the Turkish state. The Turkish state threatens us because they can’t stomach Shengal governing itself,” and pointed out that the Êzidî people have reached a level where they can act with their own will.

“WE THANK THE PKK”

On the HPG-YJA Star guerillas withdrawing from Shengal, Hesen Hecî said: “We thank the PKK. We will never forget them.”

“WE DON’T ACCEPT THEIR ARRIVAL”

Sinûnê District Officer Xwedêda Çûkê said, “We will do all we can for our people. We will make the international public and human rights organizations hear our voice.”

Çûkê also mentioned the firman attacks by ISIS against Shengal in 2014 and said: “The Peshmerga forces were here before. But unfortunately they left us at the hands of ISIS. That is why we don’t accept any other force’s presence on our lands. We want to defend ourselves, and our people’s defense units are the YBŞ and YJŞ.”